Teen Anxiety: Effective Treatment Options

Parent-child communication and self-care strategies are important, but they may not be enough to address the needs of teens with anxiety. If adolescents experience excessive anxiety or severe anxiety that interferes with their functioning, a professional evaluation is warranted. If adolescents’ mood, functioning, and/or physical health are affected by anxiety on an ongoing basis, or if symptoms are severe, the next step is an evaluation by a healthcare professional to determine whether a teen is suffering from one of these types of anxiety:

As part of the evaluation, a physical examination is important to rule out underlying medical conditions that may mimic anxiety symptoms. Anxiety tends to run in families, indicating a genetic component to its development.

If you are seeing any of the signs and symptoms of anxiety in your teenager, an assessment with a provider should also include a discussion of treatment options. Weekly therapy can be a progressive step in helping teens with anxiety. When anxiety has become more acute and is interfering with a teen’s daily life, outpatient or residential care may be the best and most effective choice. Pediatric anxiety disorders require careful assessment and individualized treatment.

Ultimately, long-term healing from teen anxiety involves a combination of medication for teenage anxiety and treatment approaches designed to help young people build self-compassion, self-regulation, and authentic connections. Each teen may need a different type of therapy or treatment for reducing anxiety symptoms and underlying causes.

We work with most major insurance companies, including both in-network and out-of-network payers, to optimize access to care for families.

Newport Academy’s specialized treatment for teens with anxiety incorporates a wide range of modalities to support teens in achieving long-term, sustainable healing. Each client receives a tailored treatment plan for adolescent anxiety, designed by a team of medical and clinical experts in response to the teen’s and family’s specific needs and history.

Newport’s differentiated clinical model addresses the underlying trauma and attachment wounds catalyzing mental and behavioral health issues such as anxiety in adolescents. The foundation of our programming is our team of compassionate behavioral healthcare professionals, with extensive experience and understanding of how to help teens with anxiety—including psychiatrists, psychologists, family therapists, nurse practitioners, equine therapists, art and music therapists, adventure therapists, registered dietitians, teachers, private tutors, and more, with a wide range of degrees and experience. Our clinical model also supports healthy child development by promoting emotional and psychological growth throughout adolescence.

Furthermore, our approach to teen anxiety treatment views family as central to the healing process. We are the only treatment program to utilize the groundbreaking Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) methodology, and to receive ongoing training and consultation from the co-founders of this scientifically validated therapeutic approach. For families seeking additional information or support, organizations such as the Anxiety Disorders Association offer valuable resources and guidance.

Every teen is unique, and thus may respond more to certain types of therapy than they do to others. Some clients find it easier to express themselves through art and music rather than verbally, while others are drawn to outdoor Adventure Therapy or equine therapy.

At Newport Academy, we use time-tested clinical modalities, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, proven to be effective in addressing anxiety and co-occurring issues such as substance abuse and disordered eating. Therapy also addresses factors that contribute to an increased risk of anxiety in teens, such as prolonged social media use and other environmental stressors. In addition, clients participate in somatic and experiential therapies that address teen anxiety disorders by activating the parasympathetic or “rest and digest” nervous system. Incorporating physical activity is also emphasized as a key component in reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and supporting overall mental well-being.

Newport’s teenage anxiety treatment program utilizes a variety of evidence-based clinical, experiential, and academic modalities. Services may vary depending on treatment location.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, considered the most effective modality for teen anxiety
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• Family therapy using Attachment-Based Family Therapy
• Emotional Freedom Technique
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

• Yoga and mindfulness exercises
• Music and art therapy
• Mixed martial arts and fitness activities
• Equine-Assisted Therapy
• Adventure Therapy
• Culinary and horticulture therapy
• Healthy device management
• Community service